Councillor John Bernard Humphreys FCA Mayor of Trafford 1978-79
John Bernard Humphreys
The Man John Bernard Humphreys (Jack) was born on Friday 15th May 1903 in Lincoln, son of Robert, an elementary Schoolteacher and later Headmaster of Rosemary Lane School and Helen Marion nee Bavin. He had one brother Robert Arthur born in 1908.
The 1911 census shows the family living at School House, Rosemary Lane, Lincoln and in 1921, John now aged 18 and still at school, at 25 Rosemary Lane.
Following his education Jack became a Chartered Accountant working for a large Manchester firm and on Tuesday 4th June 1929 aged 26 at Wesley Chapel, Clasketgate, he married Phyllis Mary Kirkham, who was a member of the Choir and worker at the chapel. Jack’s brother Robert was best man and the ceremony conducted by Rev James Course; they held their reception for about 60 guests at the Arcadia Café. They had three children, John born in 1931, Peter 1943 and Helen Mary 1946.
Following their marriage Jack and Phyllis moved to Manchester closer to his company and in 1939 were living at 29 Rosslyn Road, Stretford, the 1939 Register shows John living at 79 Manor Road and working as a Chartered Accountant. It is unknown if he saw any military service during World War II.
From the 1960s on Jack’s name appears numerous times in the London Gazette as responsible for liquidating various companies and he became a Fellow Chartered Accountant.
At some point Jack became involved in local politics serving as an elected Councillor on the Bowden Urban District Council, becoming its Chairman. Following local Government reorganisation in 1974, Bowden UDC was combined with other local authorities to form the Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council onto which Jack was elected.
On Tuesday 23rd May 1978 aged 75 he was elected as the Mayor of Trafford and vowed to do everything possible during his 12 months in office to make people living in the Sale, Altrincham, Stretford and Urmston areas start to begin thinking of themselves as Traffordians, the new borough being only just four years old.
Having undertaken his year as Mayor he handed over the Chain of Office to his Deputy Cllr Michael King in May 1979.
In later life Jack and Phyllis lived at Flat 2, Church Court, Cecil Road, Hale, Altrincham and Phyllis passed away 25th March 1988 and cremated on 29th, at Altrincham Crematorium, although her official records state it was in May! Following her death Jack moved into a care home Kilpeacon House, Grey Road, Altrincham and passed away on 28th May 1992 aged 89. He was cremated on 5th June also at Altrincham Crematorium.
The 1911 census shows the family living at School House, Rosemary Lane, Lincoln and in 1921, John now aged 18 and still at school, at 25 Rosemary Lane.
Following his education Jack became a Chartered Accountant working for a large Manchester firm and on Tuesday 4th June 1929 aged 26 at Wesley Chapel, Clasketgate, he married Phyllis Mary Kirkham, who was a member of the Choir and worker at the chapel. Jack’s brother Robert was best man and the ceremony conducted by Rev James Course; they held their reception for about 60 guests at the Arcadia Café. They had three children, John born in 1931, Peter 1943 and Helen Mary 1946.
Following their marriage Jack and Phyllis moved to Manchester closer to his company and in 1939 were living at 29 Rosslyn Road, Stretford, the 1939 Register shows John living at 79 Manor Road and working as a Chartered Accountant. It is unknown if he saw any military service during World War II.
From the 1960s on Jack’s name appears numerous times in the London Gazette as responsible for liquidating various companies and he became a Fellow Chartered Accountant.
At some point Jack became involved in local politics serving as an elected Councillor on the Bowden Urban District Council, becoming its Chairman. Following local Government reorganisation in 1974, Bowden UDC was combined with other local authorities to form the Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council onto which Jack was elected.
On Tuesday 23rd May 1978 aged 75 he was elected as the Mayor of Trafford and vowed to do everything possible during his 12 months in office to make people living in the Sale, Altrincham, Stretford and Urmston areas start to begin thinking of themselves as Traffordians, the new borough being only just four years old.
Having undertaken his year as Mayor he handed over the Chain of Office to his Deputy Cllr Michael King in May 1979.
In later life Jack and Phyllis lived at Flat 2, Church Court, Cecil Road, Hale, Altrincham and Phyllis passed away 25th March 1988 and cremated on 29th, at Altrincham Crematorium, although her official records state it was in May! Following her death Jack moved into a care home Kilpeacon House, Grey Road, Altrincham and passed away on 28th May 1992 aged 89. He was cremated on 5th June also at Altrincham Crematorium.
Past Mayor and Mayoress of Trafford Borough Council Jewels
The Story The Past Mayor and Mayoress Jewels awarded to John Bernard and Phyllis Mary Humphreys were acquired from e-Bay on 11th November 2024 and of interest simply because they were a complete set.
Ancestry, Wills and the Newspaper archives enabled a reasonable biography to be pieced together as is often the case with Past Mayors appearing regularly in the local press during their year in office. Trafford Borough Council Mayors Officer were also most helpful in providing the much sought after Mayoral Portrait and roll of honour from within the Council Chamber.
It is not clear if John Humphreys served in the armed forces during World War II, bur he does seem to have been a Councillor for a number of years, being Chairman of the former Urban District and then Mayor of the new Borough of Trafford.
Ancestry, Wills and the Newspaper archives enabled a reasonable biography to be pieced together as is often the case with Past Mayors appearing regularly in the local press during their year in office. Trafford Borough Council Mayors Officer were also most helpful in providing the much sought after Mayoral Portrait and roll of honour from within the Council Chamber.
It is not clear if John Humphreys served in the armed forces during World War II, bur he does seem to have been a Councillor for a number of years, being Chairman of the former Urban District and then Mayor of the new Borough of Trafford.
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Trafford Town Hall, Talbot Rd, Old Trafford, Stretford, Manchester. Past Mayors Roll of Honour.
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Medal Details
- Past Mayor of Trafford Jewel: COUNCILLOR JOHN B.HUMPHREYS. F.C.A. MAYOR BOROUGH OF TRAFFORD 1978-79
Past Mayoress of Trafford Jewel: MRS PHYLLIS M.HUMPHREYS MAYORESS BOROUGH OF TRAFFORD 1978-79
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